John Bailey, president and CEO of Rockwall County Helping Hands, told the Fate City Council on Jan. 6 that demand for the nonprofit’s services has climbed sharply and described plans to expand the organization’s facilities and capacity.

Bailey said Helping Hands has three core program areas: client assistance (direct payment of bills and casework), a food pantry, and a thrift store that helps fund operations. He said the organization also operates a health center staffed by nurse practitioners and medical assistants that treats both paying and indigent patients. Bailey said annual medical-clinic expenditures run about $750,000–$800,000.

Bailey provided several recent figures comparing February 2022 to the end of 2024: Helping Hands distributed about 228,598 pounds of food in February 2022 versus about 523,000 pounds in the most recent year. He said direct financial assistance grew “51% in the last two years,” citing figures of $613,000 and $927,000 in direct assistance across periods he compared, and said he expects the total could reach $1 million next year.

He said the thrift store generated roughly $2,200,000 in sales in the past year and that 84 cents of every donated dollar goes to direct client services. Bailey described a multi-phase facility project — a roughly $6,000,000 expansion — that will replace a 500-square-foot food pantry with a 2,600-square-foot grocery-style pantry, double clinic exam rooms from five to ten, and expand administrative space to allow growth of the thrift store operation. Bailey said the organization expects to be in the new building by June (year not specified in the presentation).

Council members asked about the intake and eligibility process. Bailey said applicants complete an application, provide proof of residency (Helping Hands serves Rockwall County residents for most services), and meet with one of four caseworkers who verify documentation and evaluate need. He said local dollars generally stay local, though the health center may accept some non‑county patients.

Council members and Mayor offered praise and gratitude. Councilmember Mark (surname not specified in the transcript) and others cited Helping Hands’ holiday programs, backpack distributions and medical services as valuable community supports.